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OswegoBruin
Joined: 11/11/10 Posts: 17,106
Nico opens up a lot of possibilities for this team.
Posted Fri, May 02 8:00 am
Getting the obvious out of the way, his ability to extend plays that break down with his legs will help take some pressure off the OLine, which I expect will be a work in progress this year. That alone will help tremendously.

But assuming that Sunseri runs a similar offense to Cignetti/Shanahan, i.e. the spread option, I think Nico is going to be a really beneficial piece.

For one, he's a two-year starter. That experience is valuable, because that offense is not simple, it's relatively complex. Experience will allow the game to slow down for him and perhaps give him the ability to make those complex-ish RPO/PRO reads.

Two, if he has a special skillset at this point, it's improvisation. RPO really relies on unpredictability. You basically just have to force the QB to make the wrong read. But if you're facing a QB who can improvise, even if you break down a play with your defense and force him to make the wrong read, he could still evade and find an open player or open running lane.

Three, Nico's going to have a lot of skill players available to him. If there's one thing we've done well in recruiting, it's amass skill talent. Titus, Kwazi, Ezavier, Hudson, and Pederson are a really good core of pass catchers, and if we can get Rico back and healthy that will make that unit even deeper. I've heard good things about Mikey Matthews, and Jaedon Wilson showed some big play ability too. That's a lot of options without even adding in Karson Cox/Berger.

It's all going to come down to the OL. Can they give Nico time? Can they open holes for the run game? Can they block the edge for screens and flat routes? Time will tell.

Overall, the team looks like a less experienced version of Indiana last year, in that the offensive line is probably the weak link, so I expect we will do a lot of screens/wheels, and it requires great execution. That was an issue for us last year, so I'm hoping we can mesh quickly.
"Every day at UCLA was a good day." -Coach John Wooden
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ShowtimeUCLA
Joined: 11/19/17 Posts: 1,978
I think he’s a one year starter
Posted Fri, May 02 7:35 pm
In response to Nico opens up a lot of possibilities for this team. (OswegoBruin)
He redshirted his freshman year.
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yogibear
Joined: 1/25/13 Posts: 1,765
Met both
Posted Sat, May 03 6:10 pm
In response to Nico opens up a lot of possibilities for this team. (OswegoBruin)
Nico and Madden at showcase today. Very courteous and polite to every fans approaching them for photos. As for showcase itself, not much to gauge. Was more focusing on the trenches. Ford,,Unije, and Arnold all looked the part and held their own on one on one. Of course our edges are big question mark. Didn't see Davillier, didn't see Garrett DiGorgio suited up. Cogshell maybe a player in the future but under sized for every down linemen at this stage as true Fr. Ashton Sanders looked much smaller than I imagined from roster listing. Looked to have athletic physique but doesn't look like he can put on weight easily. Like Mone Malafu. Scott Taylor looks the part. Very sthletic looking. Oddly enough, wearing #20, he looked like Medrano.....oh and Mikey Mathews is going to make you forget Logan Loya very quickly
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cd
Joined: 12/28/06 Posts: 2,206
The book on Nico is that he struggled with the RPO…
Posted Sun, May 04 6:29 pm (Edited Sun, May 04 6:33 pm)
In response to Nico opens up a lot of possibilities for this team. (OswegoBruin)
… last year at Tennessee.

The RPO works because it forces the D to make bang-bang decisions. It also requires a QB who is comfortable making bang-bang decisions.

The scouting book on Nico is that he doesn’t excel making quick decisions. Rather, he is better when he can extend the decision making time frame, typically buying time with his legs.

In a RPO, the first read is within the first 1 1/2 seconds after the snap - is the read end crashing down the line (if yes, pull the ball; if no, give it).

The second read is within the next second - assuming the QB keeps on the first read - is the LB/safety/corner (depending on D alignment). If they step up to force the run, the QB passes to the slot/TE; if the defender stays at home in coverage, the QB tucks and runs.

That is two reads, under pressure, in the space of about 2 1/2 - 3 seconds.

That is not Nico’s game.

Three things:

1) They will run some RPO anyways (every one does) to keep D’s honest. It will be more like DTR, who also preferred a “deliberate” decision making process.

2) They will try to craft the O to his strengths, with lots of intermediate routes that take a little time to develop (think the actual y cross route, starting under and converting to the seam, mesh, and whips concepts - and they will try to run with authority to keep down and distance manageable.

3) I hope he improves anyways.
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DB
Joined: 2/03/05 Posts: 19,670

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Having a talented QB will transform.....
Posted Tue, May 13 11:34 am
In response to Nico opens up a lot of possibilities for this team. (OswegoBruin)
the way the offense looks and the ability score more points assuming the OL is adequate or better. That will also allow the defense to play fewer snaps and not get run into the ground like we saw late in the year in 2023 (the Latu led defense). The OL will be key to this transformation and hopefully will open up the run game as well. I am thrilled to see what a team with real NFL caliber talent can do on offense. This year should be much more entertaining than the last two seasons.
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